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'Cats win close game
against in state rival Aggies
AT A GLANCE 2
EDITORIAL 3
FEATURES 4
SPORTS 6
CLASSIFIEDS 9
Conductor under fire after patron complaint
Palumbo says he didn't know
patron was handicapped
By Stephanie Simonson
managing editor I 777e Signpost
An incident during Sunday night's
concert in the Browning Center generated controversy among some attendants and media outlets.
As Michael Palumbo, director
of orchestral studies at Weber State
University, conducted the symphony
orchestra in the Austad Auditorium,
he paused before starting the fourth
movement to address a noise from
the audience.
Palumbo said the noise sounded like a baby crying. According to
Browning Center event policy, children younger than 8 years old are not
allowed at certain performing arts
events. He said he didn't know at the
time that the noise was coming from
a mentally disabled individual.
"Noise is noise," Palumbo said.
"So I asked to have the child removed
immediately. It had nothing to do
with being handicapped ... I went
down to the front of the stage, and I
waved and said, 'Bye bye, you need
to leave,' or something like that, trying to keep it from sounding like I was
being mean and nasty about it."
Palumbo said he has seen several
blogs and articles about the incident
that painted him in a negative light.
John Kowalewski, media relations
director at WSU, said he heard the
performing arts department has received mixed comments; some described the noise as more like a gentle cooing, and said Palumbo reacted
harshly or disrespectfully, while others said the noise did sound like a
baby crying and was disruptive.
Upon being confronted by Palumbo, the family of the disabled person
and several other members of the audience left the auditorium.
WSU senior Michael Cummins,
who plays the trumpet in the orchestra and whose wife, Chelsea, is in the
choir, said the noise was disruptive,
but that Palumbo might have overreacted.
"It was actually harder to hear the
instruments than it was her," Cummins said. ". . .1 think he (Palumbo)
was a little more angry than it necessarily warranted, but at the same
time, he was feeling the same things
that we were, and he's the one in
charge of it all, and it all lies on him
whether or not things go well, even if
it is his fault or not. So I can understand where he's coming from, and
why he could be so frustrated. He
possibly went a little over the top, in
my opinion."
Cummins said he does not blame
Palumbo for the situation.
"Basically, I would like people to
understand that it's very difficult for
musicians, much less the conductor,
to be put in that situation, because
we're trying so hard to make it right,"
he said. "We've worked months on
this piece of music, and it's very diffi
cult to play when we've got a distraction like that."
Thomas Priest, chair of the performing arts department at WSU and
a bassoon player in the orchestra,
said it was unusual that the conductor would have to deal with such situations personally.
"He kind of got forced into handling the situation, which, if you
think about it, if it was the Utah Symphony or it was a concert at Temple
Square, the performers would never
handle that situation," Priest said.
"That would be expected of the staff.
So he came out looking not very
good, which is unfortunate, because
he does a good job for us."
Kowalewski said the university
will be looking into event protocol, to
See Orchestra page 5
Painting to save the rhinoceros
PHOTO BY AIMEE SMITH I THE SIGNPOST
Students browse the dozens of rhino-inspired pictures submitted for the Respect and Protect: Rhino Art Auction, hosted by the Department
of Zoology. The silent auction is aimed at raising money and awareness of the International Rhino Foundation and the conservation of rhinos.
Students pay the price at the pump
Despite marginally lowered gas prices, students
still feel the weight of the commute to school
By Amy Fiscus
correspondent I The Signpost
Gas prices may have fallen in recent weeks, but Weber State University students said they are still feeling
the effects of high prices.
Shawn Palmer, a WSU sophomore,
drives 38 miles each way, four days a
week, to the main campus.
"Honestly my whole life has
changed because I'm going back to
school, and the cost of the commute
is horrendous," he said. "In total, my
truck costs $300 per month to gas,
which is really hard on the pocket
book."
Amy Jensen, also a WSU sophomore, commutes about 30 miles three
days a week to classes held at the
WSU Davis Campus and Davis High
School.
Jensen recently purchased a new
SUV and said that it has increased the
amount she spends on gas.
"I am spending more on gas now
than I was because my new car requires mid-grade gas and gets less
miles per gallon than my old car."
Cliff Nowell, associate dean and
professor of economics at WSU, said
gas prices in Utah aren't necessarily
more expensive than elsewhere.
"Because of refining and refining
capacity and taxes, gas prices will differ all through the U.S.," Nowell said.
"(With) the schedule that refineries
are on, sometimes they are not at full
capacity in one region, where they are
at full capacity producing gas in another region and so there are regional differences through time. I don't
think Utah is more expensive on average than the nation, but said there are
times when we are more expensive
and less expensive."
The markets in other countries impact local gas prices too.
"(In the past), it was rare to find
car ownership in the largest country in the world, China," Nowell said.
"Now, in the cities anyway, it is more
and more common among the upper-
middle class, so the worldwide demand for oil has changed dramatically in the past 10 years and oil is really
a worldwide market."
According to Nowell, gas prices will
continue to fluctuate.
"As the world comes out of recession and economic growth increases,
oil prices will rise and gas costs will
increase," he said. "But one thing that
people commonly say about gas prices is that they buy the same amount
of gas when the price changes, but
that's just not true. Numerous studies show in the long run if the price of
gas goes up, by say 10%, consumption
will go down by 6 percent. . . ."
To limit her gas consumption, Jen-
See Prices page 5
Stud, senate
questions
bus pass fee
By Brian Giles
news reporter I The Signpost
The Weber State University student senate
meeting this week said they don't want an extra fee for students who use the UTA education pass.
The university offers an Ed pass that allows students a discount on riding UTA busses and the Front Runner. The price of the Ed
pass will increase, but no decision has been
made regarding the new pricing.
Brady Harris, senator for WSU Davis, said
that by increasing the price of the Ed pass,
fewer students would take advantage of it.
"If we put in this fee," Harris said, "then
ridership is going to go down. Their won't be
as many students using those services."
Nancy Collinwood, director of student
involvement and leadership, said UTA rider-
ship by students was larger when the Ed pass
began being offered four years ago.
"The students that rode the bus were absolutely thrilled with it," she said. "Back then,
they were paying $36-$40 a month for a bus
pass."
Collinwood also said students don't realize
how much they are saving compared to the
cost of a regular bus pass.
"A monthly bus pass is $56, and if you want
the premium one, it's $180 per month," Collinwood said. "If you look at it that way, we
are saving that student tons of money."
An eight month pass, which would cover
fall and spring semesters, would cost $450,
not including front runner.
Kyle Braithwaite said the Ed pass is also a
significant savings compared to the cost of
gas and regular car maintenance.
"I spend about $1000 for a school year on
gas," he said. "Not to mention the milage I
put on it and the oil and all that."
Braithwaite said more students will drive
to and from campus because they won't realize how much it is costing them.
Collinwood said that if more students rode
UTA it would decrease the number of parking
stalls needed, as well as being better for the
environment.
"You have to look at it in a little bit of a
global sense," she said. "It might inconvenience you, but it might be better for the
community, for the environment, for the
world."
Some senators would like a parking structure close to campus.
Shalie Barber, senator for social and behavioral sciences, said other universities in
the state have parking structures, but the students pay more for their parking passes.
"You don't want to know the prices of their
parking passes," she said. "Utah State is $90
something for their highest, and the University of Utah is $140 for their highest."
Comment on this story at
wsusignpost.com.

Public Domain. Courtesy of University of Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University.

Full-Text

'Cats win close game
against in state rival Aggies
AT A GLANCE 2
EDITORIAL 3
FEATURES 4
SPORTS 6
CLASSIFIEDS 9
Conductor under fire after patron complaint
Palumbo says he didn't know
patron was handicapped
By Stephanie Simonson
managing editor I 777e Signpost
An incident during Sunday night's
concert in the Browning Center generated controversy among some attendants and media outlets.
As Michael Palumbo, director
of orchestral studies at Weber State
University, conducted the symphony
orchestra in the Austad Auditorium,
he paused before starting the fourth
movement to address a noise from
the audience.
Palumbo said the noise sounded like a baby crying. According to
Browning Center event policy, children younger than 8 years old are not
allowed at certain performing arts
events. He said he didn't know at the
time that the noise was coming from
a mentally disabled individual.
"Noise is noise," Palumbo said.
"So I asked to have the child removed
immediately. It had nothing to do
with being handicapped ... I went
down to the front of the stage, and I
waved and said, 'Bye bye, you need
to leave,' or something like that, trying to keep it from sounding like I was
being mean and nasty about it."
Palumbo said he has seen several
blogs and articles about the incident
that painted him in a negative light.
John Kowalewski, media relations
director at WSU, said he heard the
performing arts department has received mixed comments; some described the noise as more like a gentle cooing, and said Palumbo reacted
harshly or disrespectfully, while others said the noise did sound like a
baby crying and was disruptive.
Upon being confronted by Palumbo, the family of the disabled person
and several other members of the audience left the auditorium.
WSU senior Michael Cummins,
who plays the trumpet in the orchestra and whose wife, Chelsea, is in the
choir, said the noise was disruptive,
but that Palumbo might have overreacted.
"It was actually harder to hear the
instruments than it was her," Cummins said. ". . .1 think he (Palumbo)
was a little more angry than it necessarily warranted, but at the same
time, he was feeling the same things
that we were, and he's the one in
charge of it all, and it all lies on him
whether or not things go well, even if
it is his fault or not. So I can understand where he's coming from, and
why he could be so frustrated. He
possibly went a little over the top, in
my opinion."
Cummins said he does not blame
Palumbo for the situation.
"Basically, I would like people to
understand that it's very difficult for
musicians, much less the conductor,
to be put in that situation, because
we're trying so hard to make it right,"
he said. "We've worked months on
this piece of music, and it's very diffi
cult to play when we've got a distraction like that."
Thomas Priest, chair of the performing arts department at WSU and
a bassoon player in the orchestra,
said it was unusual that the conductor would have to deal with such situations personally.
"He kind of got forced into handling the situation, which, if you
think about it, if it was the Utah Symphony or it was a concert at Temple
Square, the performers would never
handle that situation," Priest said.
"That would be expected of the staff.
So he came out looking not very
good, which is unfortunate, because
he does a good job for us."
Kowalewski said the university
will be looking into event protocol, to
See Orchestra page 5
Painting to save the rhinoceros
PHOTO BY AIMEE SMITH I THE SIGNPOST
Students browse the dozens of rhino-inspired pictures submitted for the Respect and Protect: Rhino Art Auction, hosted by the Department
of Zoology. The silent auction is aimed at raising money and awareness of the International Rhino Foundation and the conservation of rhinos.
Students pay the price at the pump
Despite marginally lowered gas prices, students
still feel the weight of the commute to school
By Amy Fiscus
correspondent I The Signpost
Gas prices may have fallen in recent weeks, but Weber State University students said they are still feeling
the effects of high prices.
Shawn Palmer, a WSU sophomore,
drives 38 miles each way, four days a
week, to the main campus.
"Honestly my whole life has
changed because I'm going back to
school, and the cost of the commute
is horrendous," he said. "In total, my
truck costs $300 per month to gas,
which is really hard on the pocket
book."
Amy Jensen, also a WSU sophomore, commutes about 30 miles three
days a week to classes held at the
WSU Davis Campus and Davis High
School.
Jensen recently purchased a new
SUV and said that it has increased the
amount she spends on gas.
"I am spending more on gas now
than I was because my new car requires mid-grade gas and gets less
miles per gallon than my old car."
Cliff Nowell, associate dean and
professor of economics at WSU, said
gas prices in Utah aren't necessarily
more expensive than elsewhere.
"Because of refining and refining
capacity and taxes, gas prices will differ all through the U.S.," Nowell said.
"(With) the schedule that refineries
are on, sometimes they are not at full
capacity in one region, where they are
at full capacity producing gas in another region and so there are regional differences through time. I don't
think Utah is more expensive on average than the nation, but said there are
times when we are more expensive
and less expensive."
The markets in other countries impact local gas prices too.
"(In the past), it was rare to find
car ownership in the largest country in the world, China," Nowell said.
"Now, in the cities anyway, it is more
and more common among the upper-
middle class, so the worldwide demand for oil has changed dramatically in the past 10 years and oil is really
a worldwide market."
According to Nowell, gas prices will
continue to fluctuate.
"As the world comes out of recession and economic growth increases,
oil prices will rise and gas costs will
increase," he said. "But one thing that
people commonly say about gas prices is that they buy the same amount
of gas when the price changes, but
that's just not true. Numerous studies show in the long run if the price of
gas goes up, by say 10%, consumption
will go down by 6 percent. . . ."
To limit her gas consumption, Jen-
See Prices page 5
Stud, senate
questions
bus pass fee
By Brian Giles
news reporter I The Signpost
The Weber State University student senate
meeting this week said they don't want an extra fee for students who use the UTA education pass.
The university offers an Ed pass that allows students a discount on riding UTA busses and the Front Runner. The price of the Ed
pass will increase, but no decision has been
made regarding the new pricing.
Brady Harris, senator for WSU Davis, said
that by increasing the price of the Ed pass,
fewer students would take advantage of it.
"If we put in this fee," Harris said, "then
ridership is going to go down. Their won't be
as many students using those services."
Nancy Collinwood, director of student
involvement and leadership, said UTA rider-
ship by students was larger when the Ed pass
began being offered four years ago.
"The students that rode the bus were absolutely thrilled with it," she said. "Back then,
they were paying $36-$40 a month for a bus
pass."
Collinwood also said students don't realize
how much they are saving compared to the
cost of a regular bus pass.
"A monthly bus pass is $56, and if you want
the premium one, it's $180 per month," Collinwood said. "If you look at it that way, we
are saving that student tons of money."
An eight month pass, which would cover
fall and spring semesters, would cost $450,
not including front runner.
Kyle Braithwaite said the Ed pass is also a
significant savings compared to the cost of
gas and regular car maintenance.
"I spend about $1000 for a school year on
gas," he said. "Not to mention the milage I
put on it and the oil and all that."
Braithwaite said more students will drive
to and from campus because they won't realize how much it is costing them.
Collinwood said that if more students rode
UTA it would decrease the number of parking
stalls needed, as well as being better for the
environment.
"You have to look at it in a little bit of a
global sense," she said. "It might inconvenience you, but it might be better for the
community, for the environment, for the
world."
Some senators would like a parking structure close to campus.
Shalie Barber, senator for social and behavioral sciences, said other universities in
the state have parking structures, but the students pay more for their parking passes.
"You don't want to know the prices of their
parking passes," she said. "Utah State is $90
something for their highest, and the University of Utah is $140 for their highest."
Comment on this story at
wsusignpost.com.